Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP13234
Authors: Lucia Del Carpio; Maria Guadalupe
Abstract: This paper investigates whether social identity considerations-through beliefs and norms- drive women’s occupational choices. We implement two field experiments with potential applicants to a five-month software-coding program offered to women from low-income backgrounds in Peru and Mexico. When we correct the perception that women cannot succeed in technology by providing role models, information on returns and access to a female network, application rates double and the self-selection patterns change. Analysis of those patterns suggests that identity considerations act as barriers to entering the technology sector and that some high-cognitive skill women do not apply because of their high identity costs.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J24; J16; D91
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| identity wedge (F55) | barriers to entry for women in tech (J16) |
| higher cognitive skill women (J24) | more likely to apply when identity costs are addressed (Z13) |
| identity considerations (F50) | barriers to entry in technology sector (L63) |
| correcting the perception that women cannot succeed in technology (J16) | doubling of application rates for a software coding program (C88) |
| identity debiasing message (D91) | increased application rates (R14) |
| presence of a role model (C52) | increased application rates (R14) |